Guide palm oscillating device



Jan. 14, 1958 E. D, BEACHLER I GUIDE PALM OSCILLATING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Deo. 9, 1954 ITIIJ.

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GUIDE PALM OSCILLATING DEVICE Jan. 1f4, A1958 4 Sheets-Shee 5 z-E [C7 T Edward l). Beach/er Filed nec. 9, 1954 E. D. BEACHLER GUIDE PALM OSCILLATING DEVICE Jan. 14, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Deo. 9, 1954 El Edward D Bead/1 [er y States llatent A 2,819,655 Patented Jan. 14, 195i?) Hice 2,819,655 GUIDE PALM OSCILLATING DEVICE Edward D. Beachler, Beloit, Wis., assignor to Beloit Iron Works, Beloit, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 9, 1954, Serial No. 474,214 2 Claims. (Cl. 92-45) This invention relates to the operation of paper machines, and more particularly, to improved apparatus for operating the forming wire of a Fourdrinier type paper machine.

In the Fourdrinier type paper machine `a looped formi ing wire is trained over a breast roll (at one end receiving stock from the head box), a plurality of suction boxes and the like dewatering devices, and then over a couch roll and a turning roll at the end of the wet forming zone. The forming wire is a critical and comparatively delicate element in the paper machine and it must be handled with care. One of the diiculties encountered in the ordinary operation of a paper machine involves the presence of irregularities in the various structures which the wire must pass over. In particular, in the at boxes or suction boxes there is a tendency for irregularities to develop on the covers of these boxes and, if the wire runs continuously over the same spot there is a tendency for such irregularity to ridge the wire. Also, the wire itself may tend to cause wear and tear on Vthe box covers or to wear grooves therein. Heretofore, the only remedy proposed for this diiculty involved oscillation of the flat boxes, but this, of course, involves the use of rather heavy equipment and, although this procedure is used generally, it is relatively awkward.

In accordance with the instant invention, a greatly simplied and relatively lightweight structure is provided to effect limited lateral reciprocatory motion of the wire itself. It has now been found that very slight lateral movement of the wire using a rather slow timing cycle has no harmful effect upon the web formation on the wire and apparently does not involve any new diculties in the operation of the paper machine. On the other hand, by the use of this limited lateral movement of the wire it is possible to continuously change the portions of the wire which are passing over various points in the at box covers so as to avoid the diflculties hereinbefore mentioned.

Also, the oscillatory movement of the flat boxes is no longi er necessary.

It is, therefore, an important object of the instant invention to provide an improved forming wire operation, land more particularly, an improved apparatus for carrying out the operation of the forming wire.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an improved reciprocating palm device which effects slow reciprocating lateral movement of the wire over a relatively limited lateral distance so as to completely eliminate the necessity for equipment for oscillating the flat boxes in a paper machine.

Other objects, features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detail disclosure of a preferred embodiment thereof and the drawings attached hereto which form a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a rear elevational view of a device embodying the instant invention; p

Figure 2 is a side elevational view taken generally along the broken line II-II of Fig. 1, with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view partly in crosssection, showing a wire guide embodying a preferred form of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the guide roll and actuator shown in Figure 3, also showing in elevation the guide palm device of the invention engaging the upper run of forming wire;

Figure 5 is a top plan View with parts broken away and parts shown diagrammatically, of the roll guide and the guide palm in one operating position; and

Figure 6 is a view comparable to Figure 5 showing a second operating position of the relative elements.

As shown on the drawings:

Although it will be appreciated that the instant device may be used to effect lateral reciprocal movement of any sort of travelling band, travelling paper web, or the like, it will be appreciated that the instant device has particular utility with respect to the Fourdrinier type paper machine wire for the reasons hereinbefore mentioned, and the operation of the instant device will be described with respect to its use in a Fourdrinier type paper machine.

Referring rst to Figures 1 and 2 only, a Fourdrinier type paper machine wire W travels in a generally horizon- -tal direction, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l, with its top reach TR (the bottom reach BR of the looped wire W being omitted in Figures l and 2 for purposes of simplification) travelling over the various elements of the wet end of the paper machine including dat boxes such as the ilat box B indicated in light lines in Fig. 1.

The instant device indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 comprises means for effecting reciprocal lateral movement of the travelling forming wire W in a paper machine, comprising a hand 11 presenting a palm, plate or tlat surface 11a to an edge Wa of the wire W, actuating means 12 on an arm indicated generally at 13 operatively connected to the hand 11 and movable relative thereto, said actuating means 12 (which will be described in detail hereinafter in connection with Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6) elfectively controlling lateral movement of said wire W in response to relative movement between the arm 13 and the hand 11, and drive (diaphragm) means indicated generally at 14 in control of movement of the arm 13, which alternately move the arm in the first lateral diretcion d1 and then in the opposite lateral direction d2. As will be appreciated the normal tension on the wire: W will tend to resist movement of the Wa and the position of the palm 11a generally depends upon the position of the wire edge Wa. As the drive means 14' urges the arm 13 back and forth relative movement between the arm 13 and the hand 11 is created and this controls the actuator 12.

Relative movement between the arm 13 and the hond l] As will be seen, the hand 11 is a generally flat vertically extending member, presenting a vertically extending palm 11a of appreciable height to accommodate variations in the height of the wire W and having flared back or Hang/ed edges 11b along the opposite vertically extending sides for smooth engagement with the wire edge 12. A threaded nipple 11C suitably welded to the back of the hand 11 receives a bolt 15 slipped through a collar 16a of a depending support 16 to secure the hand 11 to the support 16. The support 16 extends upwardly and is pivotally mounted on a pin 17 in the actuator 12 which in turn is secured to the horizontally extending arm 18. The relative movement between the arm 18 and the hand 11 is thus pivotal movement (about the pin 17) in a generally lateral direction.

The horizontal extending arm 13 extends in a direction generally normal to the palm surface 11a and laterally ot palm 11a against the wire edge 3. the travelling vviietVl".l The horizontal arm 18 is secured tov avertically"extending` leg E9 b'y means of a` T-shaped pipe fitting or clamp 2@ holding the horizontal arm l against relative axial movement; and the vertical leg. 19 istin" turn securedE to and held against axial movement' by a second T-shaped fitting or. clamp 2li securely mounted toV a cro'ss pieceLv extending in a ho'riizont'al direction. The cross piece 22 carries'a pairofspa'ced pivots 23' and 2d each pivotally mounting supportinglegs 25" and' Zo, respectively; Asshown in Fig. l, the t'op .2521 of theleg 25' is bifurcated to receive the pivotpn 23 which also passesth'rougri the cross piece Z2; The leg 26 is similarly mounted on the pivot pin 24. A bracketv 257* secured againstmovementto, the to'pl of tlie diapbragmmeans by Welding orotner'suitablemounting means also carries tivopivot pins. 2E and 291 Thep'ivot' pin (Fig- D' is`received through. both'` legs ofl al bi'filrcated' end 27a oi the bracket`2'7 andl the pivotpiii Z'ipivotally. receives? a collar Zb at. the lower extremity ofltbe verticalileg, 25'. At the opposite end27i ofthe braclctZ? a similar bifurcatedv mounting for the pivot pin'ZQis provided. and the pivot pin 29' affords pivotal; mountingfor the vertical. leg/2,6.`

which receives the pivotpi'n 2'9`in acollar pontonliib. and which extends downwardly from the. collar portion 25!) to its bottom end 26e within the. diaphragm meansld.

As willbe appreciated; the diaphragmmeans liwilll act upon/the lower extremityv 26e (in a mannerto be described hereinafter)v of the leg 26 so` as to. swing.y the legZebaclt and forth about the pivot 295.A "lhef'our pivots. 239.24-, 2h' 1 and 29 mountedl to thev-arious elementsat the` four. cor- 'f ners of a rectangle will,.of`eourse; serveto'translatefswing ing or pivotal. movement. of.'v the. leg 26 to: substantially horizontal' movement of thecrosspieceZZ. andall. of the elements carried thereby including, thefarm i8..

Referring, nowftofthe details of the; diaphragm mechanism liitwill be seen that-themechanism i4 comprisesr a pair ofi opposed generally dish` shapedhousing members 30a and. llbpwhich. are secured together alongl their peripheral portions by, bolts- 3l (Fig. 11) and which sealingly clampthe peripheral edgesof a-diaphragm 32'(Fig. 2) so as tofdivide theoverallfhousing; 30 into` two chambers X and Y. The housing/3% has a'- base por-tion 30o that is suit-ably secured toy a: xeds supporting member Se so* as lto support thewhole assembly liti.. The bracket 27 is secured: to the topy of. the housing 30,-' AsA here shown the dish shaped housing'half- 30b is made upfof anv annular member 332y andf ai cover member 34 which. clampingly engagel the peripheral-v po1f.tiorx-.` 32o of the resilient' dia.- phragm.` 32;. as indicated in. Fig; 2. The diaphragm: mem ber 'iis made of: suitably resilientmetal: or elastomeric material.V with: on without. reinforcements sof as. to permit repeated eXing-of-the diaphragm 32 during operation ofl the instant device;

As willi be seen; the ohamberY is thus" defined. by the diaphragm- SZfandf the cap-member." 34e, whichf is equipped with the customary pet cock drawofii neartlie'bottom of the chamber Y and a central fluid pressure inlet line 36 entering through' the aperture 37'in the cover member 3d and threadedly' receivedtthercby. Als showndiagramv matically in` Fig. 22,. thev liuidy pressure line' 36 provides fluid pressure alternately for successively actuating and deactuating the diaphragm means? A source of fluid under pressure such as the. compressed air.' pump B is connected through a: line` 37.- to valv'emeans 38 in control of!r tbe iiuid pressure line. Thevalveneans consist of housing portion Stia'y which affords communication with the pump line 37g theA iluidv pressure'A line sand an exhaust port 39;' andil the' valve meansl has ay centralv motor driven rotary member 3855 withl ports 40' and di: therein. In the operation' of' the instant device' Mi', the moto'rdriven rotorv 38h" rotates slbwl'yuntil it're'aches' the position shown in Fig; 2 and', atthis' point, Huid pressure is delivered from the pump through the lines 331!I and4 36 and into the chamber Y in a manner.' which will. be defill - the wire' edge Wa...

`55a, respectively,.

scribed hereinafter, this iluid pressure operates against the diaphragm 3T so' asAv to' move" the' arrn 118 (or the overall arm assembly i3) in the first-'direction d1. The rotor 38h then continues to move in, for example, a clockwise direction until the passenger 41 is aligned with the fluid pressure line 36 and the passageway itl is aligned with the exhaust port 39, at which timethetpressure in the chamber Y is released and the diaphragm 32 is deactuated. As will be appreciated', the particolarl timingffor theactuating and deactuating periods can be altered by alteringy the positions of the rotor passageways and/or.thevalveports. The instant rotor SSE is, however, driven relatively slowly so that the resulting lateral movement? oif thel w-ire'W wiil be comparatively slow.

With respect to the details ofconstruction concerning the support for the diaphragm 32, it will be noted that the lower extremity 26C of the leg 26 carries a disk shaped member 42. which. is. secured. to4 the. central portion ofv the diaphragm. 3.2 and .which sbacked integral. ribs 432,44-, andibest shownin-Fig l'. The ribsare integrallwith the disk member i2 and the lower extremity 716C of the legy 26:

In the chamber. X there ismounted a rcsilientmember., whichis. thespringii.V The spring 46: receivesva. pinily on thebaclc of the bottomend. 26a. offthe leg .7.-6v for positioning the spring 46.. thereagainst and.` the. resilient. force of the spring i6y is adjustable; by. virtue olf-,tl'leaxiallyY ad instable stop member. i9 threadedly receivedby a: central aperture 5b in. the housing, member: 34m and secured iny position bymeans of. alock nutfSL` T-he stop member 49 alsocarries a positioningpin 52.received by the springri. The chamber X. is vented'to. theiatmosphere.through the vent 53 near` thc-base,` sothatmovementofhthediaphragm 322 backand forth inV the chambers XV andy Y will. not entrap air inthe chamber X.

It will thus be seen thatthe arm (which may actuallyl include the elements 12, L7,v 18;. 1.9,. 20 2l and 22) carrying' the'hand 1 1 is connected to a diaphragm 32y (by means ofthelegtZ-)a Theresilientfmember or spring46f is also connectedtorthe diaphragm32 andi iturges'movementofithe arm-.in one-direction, infthis case theA direction d2. The uid pressure means (which includes the line'y `36- and associated4 equipmentl communicates with. the diaphragm 32 andi (when actuated) serveszto-i counterbalance the resilienty means 46 and to move the. arm in the other direction' d1. The valve means, 38 alternately actuates thelluid pressuremeansti `tocounterbalance the resilient/means 46 a-nddeactivates thefuidpressure means 36fto yield? tofthe resilientmeansll.. Infthis mannen, the diaphragm means1 14" will; eectively control relative movement of the arm andl oi thevhand= 1.1: by.' alternately moving the arm lsin. the lirst direction. dir and-then in the opposite direction. d2, whiley theha-nd. 1.1` remains at This movement is. relatively` slow as hereinbefore explained soithat the actuator lzwill cause the wire to slowly track back `and forth during operation, without being movedso-rapidly esto interfere` inany Way with the other phases of the paper making opera-tion: including the evendistribution. of. thev webuponthe wire W.

The actual movement` of` thev wire Wiselectivelyv and adjustably limitedby means` of the adjustable.- stops 54 and 55 which` cooperate with.l thev arm assembly,l iny this case the leg- 26, but which effectively control. the extent of relative movement created between they arm: and hand 11i.. As will.befnotedattheitopof. the housing` 31h` opposed adjustable stop members 54"and5'5iare mounted in theplane of movement of the pivoted leglclosely below thepivotpi-n 29'. 'lhestopsilf and SSfare threadedly received. in suitable aperturesSGv and 5`7,respecti`vely,.in

the housing. 3l) and are axially movable. with respect` thereto. The stops 54- and 55V are threaded intofthe apertures S6 and 57, respectively, so that the ends 54d and will be. spaced the desired? extremely small distance from the during operation, the. legA 26 will. be. resting. aga-inst one sides of the.` leg. 2'61 Actually,

' `5 or the other of the stops 54 and 55 between movements of the leg 26. Lock nuts 58 and 59, respectively, are provided for the purpose of securing the position of the stops 54 and 55, once the desired adjustment has been made.

Operation ofthe actuator 12 in response to relative movement between the arm 13 and the hand 11 The foregoing description has related primarily to the creation of continuous alternating relative movement between the arm 13 and the hand 11 by means of the drive means 14. As previously mentioned relative movement (or the swinging movement about the pivot pin 17) between the hand 11 and the arm assembly 13, or the arm proper 18, causes the actuator 12 to effect lateral shifting of the wire W. In this respect any sort of travelling band, web or wire may have its lateral movement controlled. In general, the actuator 12 operates in the manner shown in United States Patent No. 2,530,122 issued to Lloyd Hornbostel on November 14, 1950. In the Hornbostel disclosure, the actuator 12 is mounted in `fixed position (held against lateral movement) and the only moving member is a palm guide follower such as the instant hand 11 which signals lateral shifting of a web to the actuator and the actuator in turn effects movement of guide rolls so as to correct for the lateral shifting of the web. `In the instant device, however, relative movement between the actuator 12 (carried by the arm assembly 13) and the hand 11 is artificially created by the drive means 14 so that the actuator 12 is really signaling constantly to certain wire guide means (which will be described) in an effort to correct or compensate for an apparent lateral shifting of the web which is being signaled to the actuator 12.

In other Words, as the drive means 14 urges the arm 18 in the direction d1, the wire at iirst does not shift and the relative movement between the arm 13 and hand 11 gives va signal to the actuator 12 to the effect that the wire W has actually shifted in the direction d2. This causes the actuator to shift the wire guide means and urge the wire in the direction d1. The urging of the wire in the direction d1 is not a drastic but merely a slowly shifting process and, as the wire W starts to shift slowly over in the direction d1, the drive means 14 suddenly shift the arm assembly 13 back in the direction d2 and an opposite signal is given to the actuator 12, which in turn is transmitted to the Wire guide means, which in turn slowly start to shift the wire back in the direction d2. In view of this timing the movement of the wire W is always behind the actual signals given to the actuator 12 and a continuous alternating lateral move` ment of the wire Wis thereby effected.

Referring now primarily to Figures 3, 4, and 6, and also certain details of the actuator 12 shown in Figures l and 2, it will be noted that for the sake of simplicity and convenience, reference numerals indicating parts of the overall actuator mechanism 12 are indicated in the 100 series. A bottom reach BR of the wire W in the paper machine passes beneath a plurality of rolls (not shown) which serve generally to guide the wire W. A shiftable guide roll 112 is supported by a frame 114 in any convenient manner, such as by mounting the roll 112 in a spherical bearing 115 in the lower end of a link 117, the link 117 being pivotally supported on a pin 118 in the upper part of the frame 114, as best shown in Figure 3. The other end of the roll 112 is supported on a frame 119 which may be an integral part of the frame 114 by means of a spherical bearing 120 so that as the link 117 pivots about the pin 118, the guide roll 112 will rotate freely between the spherical bearings 115 and 120.

The link 117 is joined to an actuating diagram 122 by a pressure rod 124 which may be rigidly connected to a diaphragm support 128 and pivotally connected to the link 117 in the usual manner. The diaphragm 122 is held in a diaphragm chamber 12S by means of a link 126 pivotally connected to both the frame 114 and the central portion of the diaphragm support 128. Pressure in the chamber moves the link 117 to the right (as indicated in Figure 3) against the tension of the spring 127. Upon release of pressure in the chamber 125, the spring 127 moves the lower end of the link 117 to the left (as seen in Figure 3).

Fluid, such as air, may enter the chamber 125 through a pipe 130. The air is supplied from a source (not shown) through a pipe 131 (Figure 4) from whence it passes through a pressure regulating valve 132, the pres sure beyond the valve 132 being recorded on a gauge 133. The valve 132 limits the maximum pressure in the line beyond this valve so that it does not rise above a desired maximum and may be set at any pressure desired.

A bleed or needle valve 135 permits the air to pass slowly into a T 136 from whence it enters the pipe 130 to the chamber 125. The second branch of the T 136 has a pipe 138 connected thereto which leads to a relief valve (which has been indicated previously as a component of the actuator 12).

As best shown in Figure 2, the relief valve 140 is mounted by means of a clamp 139 on the arm member 18 in rigid engagement to be carried laterally with the arm 18. The relief valve 140 may comprise a hollow conical member 141 and a solid conical member 142 having an annular groove 143 thereabout, the member 142 fitting within the member 141 and capable of forming a tight fit therein. The air from the pipe 138 enters the hollow conical member 141 at the front (as shown in Figure 1) adjacent the groove 143 and may bleed out between the members 141 and 142, the amount of bleeding depends upon the separation between the conical members 141 and 142.

The maximum rate of bleeding of the valve 140 is small as compared to the capacity of the diaphragm chamber 125 so that small changes in the starting of the valve 140 do not immediately eilect the movement of the diaphragm 122, or at least such small changes are quite slow in producing any driving movement of the diaphragm 122.

A bracket 147 is mounted on one side of the bleed valve 140 and has a link 148 pivotally connected to the bracket 147 at one end and pivotally connected to the hand support 16 at the pin 17 at its opposite end. The hand support 16 is also pivotally connected to the conical member 142 through an ear 151 formed on the base of the conical member 142. A second bracket 153 is formed on the valve 140 substantially opposite to the bracket 147 and carries a tension spring 155 which is connected at its opposite ends to the bracket 153 and the upper extremity of the hand support 16, at 16d. The tension spring 155 resiliently urges the valve 140 into closed position.

Regulating screws 156 and 157 contact the tip of the cone 142 and an ear 158, respectively, to limit the inward movement of the conical member 142 and permit complete closing of the valve 140, while at the same time preventing binding of the conical members 141 and 142.

Although it will be appreciated that actuator assemblies other than the instant actuator 12 may be used, it has been found that the structure here shown is preferred for a number of reasons;

In reviewing the operation again, it will be noted that movement (1) of the hand 11 in the direct ion d2 or (2) of `the actuator assembly 12 in the direction d1 will cause the valve 140 to be open; and movement alternatively back and forth of the actuator assembly 12, as caused by alternate moving of the drive means 14, will cause alternate opening and closing of the valve 140, which in turn causes ultimate actuation and deactuation of the diaphragm 122 and consequent alternate shifting of the pivotally mounted spherical guide roll bearing 115 forward and backward.

Referring briefly to Figures 5 and 6, it will be noted emanen that an: initial movement of. the acm'atot' assembly' 12. inu the' right hand direction Whichliss laterally'awayiiromithel wire W will` tend to cause closing or? the bleedtyaflve 1402 and an incneasedl' pressuire in the d-iaphiagrn.v assent-bly! 125i; The increase int pressureinl`v the diaphragm assent bly 125 will then uitge' the rolillspherizzalthearimg E15 for'- Wardly to the position shown in Eigun'e- 6.V T'hi'syilnV turn, serves to shift the bottom reach Bai et the wine W also to the right (and,vforthat1natter, the'- entire Wire Willf be shiftedl to the right)I in? the meafnwhile,the` actuator assembly 12 will.` he reversed.A ini mov ment so' as to be' moving in the direction t'o` the left indicated' inl Figure 6; and this, in turn, Willi cause: opening' ofl the' lleed'f va-lve Mtl', a release of. pressune in: the: diaphragm 1225-v and ai shiftingV of' the sphericalb'earing: 1'15 rearwardly toward? the' position. indicated in Figure 5.

It W-ill be. understood thatrnodiiications and variations may 'ne eitectedl without" depart-ing? fromM the: scope` of' they novel'. concepts of the.presentinventiom I claimv as my invention :r

1. In a paper machine, in. combination; a tensi'oncd' travelling; Wire, a: handV presenting' a palnr. tot an edgel of said wire and movable in response tofl'ateral' movement of said wire, and' arm' resilientlyf connected to saidihand, actuating. means controlling lateral movement off said wire: in response: to relative movement'. betweenfisa'idi arm and said hand, diaphragm means ini co'nt'rnl. of.' laterali movement of` said arm, iluid pressure means in: control of said diaphragm means, and valve meansv in control of fluidv pressure actuating said u'id` pressure means alternateiy openingY and closing thereby alternatelymovi-ng;` said arm int ai first laterali direction: and. thent the opposite d-t'nfection`-.`

2; In a papers' machine,` in combination, aly tensione'dtravelling Wire, a hand presenting a palm to an edg'er ofr said Wire and movable in response. tov lateral movement of` said Wire, ant` armi resiliently connected to said hand, actuating means controlling laterall movement of' said wire in I-esponseto-- relative movement' between said? ar'mand said lia-ndi a diaphragm. connected' to sai'di arm, aresilient member engaging said diapli1fa-grnl 11i-'ging y move'- rnent' of saidy arm`- in one lateraliv direction, iiuid pressure means communicatingwithv said diaphragm. e'ounterbalhr anci'ng'r said resilient mea-nsv and moving sa-idarm in the other lateral direction andl valve means alternately actuating said rluid pressure means tot counterba-lance saidv resilient means and? d'eactuating said Huid; pressure means to yield to saidl resilient means thereby alternately'mov ing said arm in the iii-st direction and th'enthe` opposite direction.

References Cited inf the: le' oli'k thislpat'e'ntl UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 16,883 Devine Feb; Z1, 1928 1,885,164" White n Nov. 1, 1932 2,530,122 Hornbostel Nov.y 14, 19-50 2,632,642 Cooper e M-ar. 24, 1953 2,635,475 Hornhostely -2 Apr.v 2'1, 1-953- 

